Eurovision devotees stage mass celebration in York (From York Press)

Eurovision devotees stage mass celebration in York

7:30am Monday 28th May 2012 in News By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk

Updated: MORE than 100 Eurovision devotees from across Britain descended on York at the weekend for a mass celebration of the 57th annual song contest.

Fans of the international song contest, which was won by Swedish singer Loreen, on Saturday night, joined together for the first ever Euroglitz organised by sisters Rachel Alexander-Hill, Emily Roberts and Eloise Flint and the UK Eurovision Fan Club president, Paul Marks-Jones.

All four were in Dusseldorf for last year’s contest, which was won by Ell & Nikki’s Running Scared for Azerbaijan.

Rachel, who is the marketing manager for the Grand Opera House in York, said: “Realising that the distance and the expense involved would prohibit a lot of fans from travelling to Baku, where this year’s contest was being held, we decided we should put together a weekend for the UK fans who would miss out on the live contest.”

As part of the Euroglitz events, 40 fans held a public singalong in Coppergate on Saturday afternoon to raise money for the Henshaws Society for Blind People, Euroglitz’s official charity.

Rachel said: “It was brilliant. The crowds really enjoyed it and lots of people were clapping and singing along and our buckets were full with money afterwards, so hopefully we raised lots for charity.”

The weekend’s activities included a Euro-cruise, courtesy of York Boats, with a live performance by former UK contestant Josh Dubovie, who sang That Sounds Good To Me in 2010. Fans also enjoyed a bespoke Eurovision themed trip on York’s Sightseeing buses, and dinner and Eurovision cocktails at Revolution, before a live screening of the contest at City Screen. “We were delighted Sweden won – it was a great song. It was a shame for Engelbert Humperdinck who put on a fantastic performance but unfortunately there were better songs,” said Rachel.

City Screen’s coffee bar hosted the post contest Eurodisco. Rachel said fans danced until the early hours, and described the celebrations as “absolutely fantastic”.

Fan Paul Barker said: “I had a fantastic time in York. A huge thank you to the organisers for all the effort that went into such a great event.”

England gets the Hump!

A TV audience of 100 million watched Sweden’s entry Loreen win the 57th annual Eurovision Song contest.

Loreen, 28, danced barefoot to roaring cheers of approval won with the song Euphoria in the annual competition of 42 countries. But it was humiliation for England’s entry – crooner Engelbert Humperdinck – who came second to last with the ballad Love Will Set You Free.